If the speed of sound is faster in denser air..

.... why does an increase in temperature mean an increase in the speed of
sound?

That's got me confused. Hotter = less dense.

Thanks in advance.

"xerj" wrote in message
...
... why does an increase in temperature mean an increase in the speed of
sound?

Because density is not the sole determining factor for the sound of speed
through some medium.

Got it.

Found a page that explains it :-

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasc...0/phy00826.htm


"Peter Duniho" wrote in message
...
"xerj" wrote in message
...
... why does an increase in temperature mean an increase in the speed of
sound?

Because density is not the sole determining factor for the sound of speed
through some medium.

"xerj" wrote in message
...

... why does an increase in temperature mean an increase in the speed of
sound?

That's got me confused. Hotter = less dense.

Thanks in advance.

The speed of sound varies with temperature alone.

In article et,
"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote:

"xerj" wrote in message
...

... why does an increase in temperature mean an increase in the speed of
sound?

That's got me confused. Hotter = less dense.

Thanks in advance.

The speed of sound varies with temperature alone.

The speed of sound varies with temperature and type of medium.

--
Bob Noel
New NHL? what a joke

Bob Noel wrote:

Thanks in advance.
The speed of sound varies with temperature alone.

The speed of sound varies with temperature and type of medium.

The speed of sound in air varies almost solely with
temperature. For other types of mediums, the temperature is
less of a factor. The general formula for the speed of sound
is the density divided by the bulk modulus. The issue is that
with gases the other variables in the equation all cancel each
other out.

In water for example, density is a MAJOR factor. The speed
of sound in salt water is faster than fresh water in addition
to temperature.

"Ron Natalie" wrote in message
m...
Bob Noel wrote:

Thanks in advance.
The speed of sound varies with temperature alone.

The speed of sound varies with temperature and type of medium.

The speed of sound in air varies almost solely with
temperature. For other types of mediums, the temperature is
less of a factor. The general formula for the speed of sound
is the density divided by the bulk modulus. The issue is that
with gases the other variables in the equation all cancel each
other out.

In water for example, density is a MAJOR factor. The speed
of sound in salt water is faster than fresh water in addition
to temperature.

You're mixing apples and oranges. Water (H2O) does not equal salt water
(H2O + NaCl). They are two different media. Just as air is a nominal mix
of N + O + a few other gasses. Change that mix and it's a different media
with a different gamma and bulk modulus (R). So your density change is
really a change in media.

If the media doesn't change, density doesn't have an effect on the speed of
sound. Changing the media changes the gamma and R; but for any one specific
media, only temperature will cause a change in the speed of sound.

Gerry

Ron Natalie wrote:
Bob Noel wrote:

Thanks in advance.

The speed of sound varies with temperature alone.


The speed of sound varies with temperature and type of medium.

The speed of sound in air varies almost solely with
temperature. For other types of mediums, the temperature is
less of a factor. The general formula for the speed of sound
is the density divided by the bulk modulus. The issue is that
with gases the other variables in the equation all cancel each
other out.

In water for example, density is a MAJOR factor. The speed
of sound in salt water is faster than fresh water in addition
to temperature.

Commpressibility is the major factor. Water isn't very compressible
and transmits sound quite well, but air is and sound dissipates.
Frequency dispersion which has to do with how well various frequencies
are transmitted, affects how much the receiver will understand what is
being sent. It is an exceedingly complicated phenomenom -- ask any
sonar designer or a Navy weapons person.

"Bob Noel" wrote in message
...

The speed of sound varies with temperature and type of medium.


The medium under discussion per the subject line is air. Since this is a
piloting group it can be reasonably assumed to be air at temperatures found
in the atmosphere. Air at atmospheric temperatures behaves as an ideal gas
and the speed of sound in an ideal gas is a function of temperature.

Deriving the sonic velocity is one favorite question for the final exam
of mechanical engineering thermodynamics courses. From my old
textbook:

"in an ideal gas the sonic velocity depends only on the molecular
weight and the absolute temperature (degF + 460), and is proportional
to the square root of that absolute temperature".